Variety of Daylily plant named &#39;BERSTEL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Daylily  plant named ‘BERSTEL’ characterized by its distinctive lemon-chiffon yellow flowers and strong citrus fragrance with blooming periods lasting from late spring/early summer through first frost.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Daylily,botanically known as Daylily hemerocallis hybrid and further known bythe varietal name ‘BERSTEL’. This new variety is also sold under thetrade name STELLA SUPREME (Breeder's Ref. No. D94-17). The new varietywas discovered in a seedling selection program by the inventor, LeoBerbee, in Lisse, The Netherlands in 1994. The parental cultivar areunknown. The cultivar was isolated by the inventor, Leo Berbee, atLisse, the Netherlands, by seedling selection primarily on the basis ofornamental appeal, particularly flower color.

Following selection of the seedling the cultivar was propagatedvegetatively from clump divisions at Lisse, The Netherlands in 1994.Continued observation of the vegetative divisions resulting from asexualreproduction of clump divisions taken at Lisse, The Netherlands havingconfirmed that the distinguishing features of this new cultivar cametrue, remain stable and are retained through successive propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘BERSTEL’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, length of day, irrigation amount and frequency, and/orfertilizer rate without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe among the unique characteristics of ‘BERSTEL’. These characteristicsdistinguish ‘BERSTEL’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Distinctive lemon-chiffon yellow flower color; and

2. Long blooming season.

Plants of the new Daylily can be compared to plants of the Daylilycultivar ‘Stella d'Oro’ (unpatented). Compared to plants of the cultivar‘Stella d'Oro’, the new Daylily has a distinctive generally triangularshaped flower with a lemon-chiffon yellow in contrast to the roundedgolden-yellow flower of the comparator. The new Daylily also has alonger blooming season than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is depicted in the accompanying colored photographs inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a close up of the flower;

FIG. 2 shows the plant as a clump growing in a garden environment; and

FIG. 3 is a side-by-side comparison of the new Daylily on the left withthe comparator ‘Stella d'Oro’.

The photographs depict the overall appearance of the new Daylily,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the Detailed BotanicalDescription which more accurately describe the actual colors of the newDaylily.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines each characteristic was collected fromasexual reproductions grown in an open greenhouse with irrigationprovided by drip feeding in a hydroponic system, and carried out by thebreeder at Clyde, Victoria, Australia, approximately 38 degrees, 9minutes South latitude at 16 m elevation. The plant histories of 12plants were taken on liners, potted into 150 mm pots of a pine barkpotting mix, sifting on tray channels, in approximately September 2003.

In the following table of comparative features, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society of London Colour Chart, 1995Edition. The color values were determined on plant material grown in anopen greenhouse at Clyde, Victoria, Australia. ‘BERSTEL’ ‘Stella d'Oro’The Plant Plant Growth Rate Moderately vigorous Moderately vigorousLength of Flowering Season Remontant Time of Flowering Season EarlySpring to Late Summer Density Thick Growth Type Clumping Height LowWidth Medium Leaf Color-Main 146B 137B Characteristics Basal, linear,tapered, falcate Mean Length (mm) 59.75 45.6 Mean Width (mm) 14.69 12.09Apex Pointed Margin Flat Texture Smooth Shape Flattened Convex StemSessile Scapes Branching arrangement Taller than foliage, forked butsparsely branched Mean stem diameter (mm)  7.3  7.87 (just belowinflorescence) INFLORESCENCE Length of flowering period Remontant Numberof florets 10-20 Mean floret length (mm) 74.93 71.57 Lastingness ofbloom 1 day Fragrance of bloom Strong, citrus fragrance Diameter SmallMean Length (mm) 84.5 69.5 Form front Triangular Form profile RecurvedColor type Self Color Midzone outside 4C 16A-16B Color Margin outside 4C21C Color Midzone inside 5B 21B Color Margin inside 5C 21C Flower budShape Long Ovate Mean Length (mm) (at time 53 52 of sepal separation)Mean width (mm) (at time 14 12 of sepal separation) Color 150B 145APetal Number  6 Mean length (mm) (as at 57.35 51.08 separation) Meanwidth (mm) 29.14 20.015 Arrangement 3 inner, 3 outer arranged inopposition. Pedicel type Bracteate, borne in a close raceme Color 137C137D Prickles Absent Mean Length (mm)  2.73  1.69 Sepals Number NilBasal Spot Presence Absent Stamen Filament color 17C 17A Mean filamentlength (mm)  7  6 Anther color 10D 14D Mean anther length (mm) 41.5 35.5(base to bend) Pistils Mean style length (mm) 59.4 51.2 Style color 10C16B Seed vessel Fruit Presence 3 valved, few seeded, locule capsule

General Characteristics

‘BERSTEL’ is primarily distinguished from plants of the Daylily cultivar‘Stella d'Oro’ and other hybrid cultivars of the Daylily genus by itsuniquely distinctive lemon-chiffon yellow colored flowers giving off astrong citrus fragrance and projecting from scapes reaching about 20inches (508 mm). ‘BERSTEL’ is an ever-blooming plant beginning itsblooming season in late spring/early summer and continuing until firstfrost with a consistent array of flowers throughout the season. Thefoliage includes long flattened leaves of a medium green color lighterthan the comparator.

1. A new and distinct variety of Daylily plant, substantially as shownand described.